Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
Hans Christian AndersenRead
The naive was only a part of my fairy tales; humour was the real salt in them.
Interpretation
Humor adds depth and flavor to stories, while naivety is just a simple aspect.
In this quote, Hans Christian Andersen suggests that while innocence and naivety may feature in his fairy tales, it is the humor that truly enhances and enriches their narrative. Humor serves as a vital ingredient, providing a relatable and engaging texture that resonates with the audience, ultimately making the tales more impactful and memorable.
In practice
This quote could be used in a workshop on storytelling to emphasize the importance of humor.
Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.
My life will be the best illustration of all my work.
A human life is a story told by God.
To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote, To travel is to live.
Death walks faster than the wind and never returns what he has taken.
Turgenev was a very serious fellow but he could make me laugh because a truth first encountered can be very funny. When someone else's truth is the same as your truth, and he seems to be saying it just for you, that's great.
Secretly we're all a little more absurd than we make ourselves out to be.
As your attorney, it is my duty to inform you that it is not important that you understand what I'm doing or why you're paying me so much money. What's important is that you continue to do so.
Storytelling and copulation are the two chief forms of amusement in the South. They're inexpensive and easy to procure.
I don't speak German well but several experts have assured me that I write it like an angel. Maybe so, maybe so- I don't know. I've not yet made any acquaintances among the angels. That comes later, whenever it please the Deity. I'm not in any hurry.
Grandma told me Mama was once caught by the Principal for writing in the front of her book, "In Case of Fire, Throw This in First." I have never had so much respect for Mama as the day I heard this.
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